Elias N. Stebek (School of Graduate Studies, St. Mary’s University, Ethiopia)
‘Toward New Imaginaries of Development and Social Justice in Ethiopia’
Ethiopia currently pledges to pursue the policies of a democratic developmental state, and is
implementing series of Growth and Transformation plans. However, there is the need for new
imaginaries of development and social justice because statistical claims of double-digit
economic growth are not accompanied by enhanced livelihoods and being of citizens
commensurate with the growth reports. I argue that new imaginaries should critically
examine the most effective and realistic means of enhancing the (physical, mental, spiritual
and emotional) being of citizens and the (economic, social, political and environmental)
livelihoods of people. Development is not ‘given’ by a ‘Big Brother’, and is rather the
making of citizens themselves in the context of an appropriate institutional setting including
policy environment and work culture. Nor should development be regarded as hasty
campaign because it is an incremental steady attainment. The Ethiopian 1995 Constitution
envisages the capacity enhancement of citizens so that they can bring about development and
meet their needs. Newer conceptions should thus give prime attention to nurturing and
developing the state of being and livelihoods of citizens in the context of environmental
sustainability and the preservation of positive cultural legacies. Such imaginaries of
development should transcend statistical figures and reports of ‘accelerated growth’ including
number of schools and universities, and instead offer prime attention to enhancing livelihoods
(including poverty alleviation) and the state of being (i.e., quality education, social ties, work
ethic and moral character) of citizens.